The Effect Of Online Streaming Of Special Events Has Already Been Tested, And It Does Not Affect TV

Anyone remember the game earlier in the year between LSU and Alabama? That game had Super Bowl-sized hype, some calling it “The Game of the Century” because hyperbole is copyrighted by the Ghost of Christmas Present. CBS had over 200,000 people watch that game online, and then proceeded to have their 2nd all-time greatest TV audience in 25 years. You know why? Because when most people actually have a choice, they’ll find a huge screen to watch a game like that. But there are other people in this world who don’t get a chance to watch the game on a big screen. They’re at work or traveling. You know, giving them the option to see the game when they otherwise couldn’t.

However, these are two different things. People will not be choosing to watch the Super Bowl online instead of on TV. And as Jeremy pointed out in this article:

So who will watch the Super Bowl online? People on the go. Husbands or wives that are sports fans who end up dragged to another event. People at large parties where the view isn’t so good. I’ve been to Super Bowl parties where there are multiple televisions on showing the game… you could easily turn on a desktop, set up a laptop, or put an iPad out with the game on to add even more coverage.

The online coverage enhances coverage and can find a broader audience than ever before. There will be no effect for the overall TV audience. God help us if a weak matchup occurs, because everyone will come out of the woodwork blaming online’s presence for the lack of viewers. I’d like to preempt that kind of talk by saying, “What a load of nonsense.”

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